Fluent Fiction - Irish: Seamus's Surprise Jig: A Galway Tale
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.org/seamuss-surprise-jig-a-galway-tale

Story Transcript:

Ga: Bhí lá fuar geimhridh i gCathair na Gaillimhe nuair a shiúil Seamus isteach i dtábhairne beag cluthar ar an spéirbhealach.
En: It was a cold winter day in Galway City when Seamus walked into a cozy little tavern on the outskirts.

Ga: Fear mór le gáire mór a bhí ann, ach bhí sé beagáinín cúthail faoi chúrsaí rince.
En: He was a big man with a big laugh, but he was a bit shy about dancing.

Ga: Lá ar leith a bhí ann, agus bhí an t-atmaisféar beagáinín aisteach.
En: It was a special day, and the atmosphere was somewhat strange.

Ga: Bhí an tábhairne lán le daoine óga agus aosta araon agus iad ag baint taitnimh as an gceol beo a bhí ag seinm.
En: The tavern was filled with people young and old alike, enjoying the lively music playing.

Ga: Aoife agus Niamh, cairde le Seamus, bhí siad ann freisin, ag bualadh bos agus ag gáire leis na rinceoirí sciliúla a bhí ar an stáitse ag damhsa an jíg traidisiúnta.
En: Seamus's friends, Aoife and Niamh, were also there, clapping and laughing with the skilled dancers on stage performing the traditional jig.

Ga: Ach ansin, tharla an rud dochreidte.
En: But then the incredible happened.

Ga: Ghlaoigh an fear a bhí ag stiúradh na hócáide go tobann ainm Sheamais amach.
En: The man directing the event suddenly called out Seamus's name.

Ga: "Seamus!
En: "Seamus!

Ga: Tá do sheans anois!
En: Your chance is now!"

Ga: " a d'fhógair sé os ard.
En: he announced loudly.

Ga: Bhí daoine ag bualadh bos agus ag gáirí, ag súil go mór leis an seó a bhí le teacht.
En: People were clapping and cheering, eagerly anticipating the show to come.

Ga: Ach, ba bhréag é!
En: But it was a lie!

Ga: Níor chláraigh Seamus don chomórtas rince ar chor ar bith.
En: Seamus had not entered the dance competition at all.

Ga: Mar sin féin, bhí sé róchúthail le rá go raibh botún déanta.
En: Nonetheless, he was too shy to admit the mistake.

Ga: Shiúil Seamus go dtí an stáitse le cosa troma, agus é ag smaoineamh ar conas a thiocfadh sé as an gcás seo.
En: Seamus walked heavily to the stage, thinking about how he could get out of this situation.

Ga: Sheas sé ansin, ag féachaint síos ar an slua mór a bhí ag feitheamh le rince órga.
En: Standing there, looking down at the large crowd waiting for the golden dance, the music started with wonderful courage.

Ga: Thosaigh an ceol agus le crógacht iontach, chroch Seamus suas a chosa agus thosaigh sé ag rince.
En: Seamus straightened up and began to dance.

Ga: Ní raibh aon chleachtadh déanta aige riamh, ach bhain sé úsáid as a chuid intuition agus an t-áthas a bhí ina chroí.
En: He had never practiced before, but he relied on his intuition and the joy in his heart.

Ga: Bhog Aoife agus Niamh leis an gceol chomh maith, ag spreagadh Seamus leis an spiorad iontach sin a bhí iontu.
En: Aoife and Niamh also moved to the music, inspiring Seamus with that remarkable spirit within them.

Ga: Rith an t-am go gasta, agus bhí iontas ar gach éinne nuair a d'éirigh leis an damhsa a chríochnú gan titim ná earráid.
En: Time flew by, and everyone was amazed as he managed to finish the dance without a stumble or error.

Ga: An slua, le iontas agus meas, bhí siad ar bís.
En: The crowd, with surprise and admiration, was thrilled.

Ga: Bhain Seamus anáil domhain agus d'éirigh leis gáire faoisimh a ligean amach.
En: Seamus took a deep breath and let out a sigh of relief.

Ga: Bhuaigh sé nach an comórtas, ach croíthe an tslua.
En: He didn't win the competition, but he won the hearts of the crowd.

Ga: Ón lá sin amach, bhí Seamus ar a dtugtar mar "an rinceoir tógtha" i measc a chairde agus lucht an tí tábhairne.
En: From that day on, Seamus was known as the "improvised dancer" among his friends and the tavern regulars.

Ga: Bhí stair bheag cruthaithe aige trí thimpiste, scéal a inseofaí go ceolmhar sna hoícheanta fuara i gCathair na Gaillimhe.
En: He had created a little history through an accident, a story that would be told melodiously on the cold nights in Galway City.

Ga: Bhí ceacht foghlamtha aige freisin - uaireanta, fiú mura bhfuil tú ullamh, is féidir leat iontas a chur ar an domhan agus ort féin.
En: He also learned a valuable lesson - sometimes, even if you are not prepared, you can amaze the world and yourself.


Vocabulary Words:

• a cozy: cluthar
• a bit: beagáinín
• shy: cúthail
• atmosphere: atmaisféar
• strange: aisteach
• lively: beo
• jig: jíg
• incredible: dochreidte
• directing: stíuring
• event: hócáid
• called: glaóigh
• chance: seans
• announced: fhógair
• eagerly: mórle
• lie: bréag
• mistake: botún
• heavily: troma
• golden: órga
• wonderful: crógacht
• dance: rince
• intuition: intuition
• amazed: iontas
• stumble: titim
• error: earráid
• admiraton: meas
• relief: foaisimh
• improvised: tógtha
• regulars: lucht an tí
• accident: timpiste
• melodiously: ceolmhar